Mystras - Frescoes

Mystras - Frescoes
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Some of the best-preserved Byzantine frescoes at Mystras near Sparta, Greece

Parthenon

Parthenon
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

The queen of all classical architecture - a wonder to behold up close. A classical ending to a perfect day in Athens!

Sunset on the Lee Navigation

Summer Solstice Swim
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Swans and chicks on the Lee Navigation at sunset. Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Hope

Hope
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Sunlight was the star last Sunday morning in London's Abney Park Cemetery, shining through one of the largest horse chestnut trees I've seen. I caught a glimpse of the sun through the crown and wondered how digital capture would work - I used a full range of exposure compensation on my Nikon D40 - this frame is at +2/3 EV.

Slow Down London Photo Exhibit

Slow Down London Photo Exhibit
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Show at Foyles Cafe, Charing Cross Rd London sponsored by the Londonist and Slow Down London.

http://slowdownlondon.co.uk/gallery/

My entry 'Taste and Chat' second from left, top row
www.flickr.com/photos/d1v1d/3315118693/

Roses in Regent's Park

Roses in Regent's Park
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Healthy foliage in the Rose Garden in the Regent's Park Inner Circle. Bountiful blooms guaranteed by the end of May!

After Midnight

After Midnight
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Back at home after a week's stay at London Bridge Hospital. This was the view of London Bridge from my window on a sleepless night. Had lumbar fusion surgery. Walking again but still very painful. See link below,

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/lumbar-spinal-fusion-surgery

La Tua Pasta, Borough Market

La Tua Pasta, Borough Market
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

My favourite pasta at Borough Market, London taken on 21 February 2009. Used my not-so-portable Mamiya C330S Twin Lens Reflex camera (aka the Lee Miller camera) and Kodak TX 400 film for this. There is nothing automatic about this camera - focusing is especially challenging because of the limited depth of field with the available lighting.

You can see the range of products available at:
http://www.latuapasta.com

Clerkenwell in Bloom

Clerkenwell in Bloom
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Aah - the magic of spring - first warm sunny day in ages. This taken from ground level facing the afternoon sun in a small garden near Farringdon Station, Clerkenwell.

What is Life?

What is Life?
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Ghost Bike at Old St. / St. John St. junction in Clerkenwell - scene of a number of serious / fatal accidents involving bicycles

I am thinking of the George Harrison song, 'What is Life?'
www.last.fm/music/George+Harrison/_/What+Is+Life

Snow Drifts in Regent's Park

Snow Drifts in Regent's Park
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

OK - so time for a bit of Tom foolery. Look closely to see the seams in this British Land photo applied to a temporary wall in Regent's Place. The snow drifted up against the wall but created a cinema-like matte effect.

Early Gym Day

72-73 Goding St
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Up at 5:15 on Thursday - no delays on bus or tube but the facial lines speak to the early hour.

The Inaugural Poem - by Elizabeth Alexander

Wonderful, spirited writing - see link at:
http://london.usembassy.gov/obama004.html

Regent's Canal - Icy Morning

Regent's Canal - Icy Morning
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Rode on Regent's Canal yesterday from Broadway Market, Hackney to Islington - first time in a long while. No YOBs but lots of ice. Cyclists and peds much more courteous now about slowing down and giving way - bell tings in abundance as well. Where are the waterfowl? Too cold to 'duck' down.

Accident Hotspot - Northchurch Rd at Southgate Rd

Accident Hotspot - Northchurch Rd at Southgate Rd
Originally uploaded by D1v1d

Van failed to give way - in spite of clear road markings and sign. My lights were on and I was wearing my hi-viz vest. Luckily only minor damage but could have been worse. I suspect there was something else distracting the driver - a mobile phone?

Merry Christmas

Critical Mass Wins in House of Lords!

This post is an email from Chris Ashby at the Islington Cyclists Action Group (ICAG)

The appeal against the Metropolitan Police by a Critical Mass particpant has
been won in a major judgement made at the House of Lords today. If you want
to read the full proceedings then type something like House of Lords
Judgement 26th November 2008 into Google and you will have joyful reading!
ICAG and LCC have always supported Critcal Mass so this is an important
legal decision. Thanks and congratulations are due to the appellent and to
the appellent's legal team, one of whom some of you will know and have seen
on a recent Feeder Ride near here. One might legitimately question the huge
amount of our money spent by the Met' Police on persuing and finally losing
this ridiculous case against cyclists.

See Guardian article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/nov/26/critical-mass-london-police/print

Freedom

Reports are now flowing in about record voting in Virginia and other Eastern states; voters started to line up at 4:30 am this morning. There is hope!

The 45-year old words of Martin Luther King come to mind:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"...when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html

Lighting Up

Please, please - cycling in poor weather or in the dark without lights or reflective kit is an invitation to disaster. I've seen too many cyclists (mostly young men) with dark clothes and no reflectors or lights - drivers have to be particularly alert to see dark cyclists --- add in some rain and distraction from other traffic or a mobile phone :( --- and disaster awaits!

Items which move while cyclists are pedalling are excellent to attract attention - for instance hi-viz leg bands with velcro tabs that keep your trousers from getting stuck in the chain
http://www.respro.com/products/urban-commuting/hi-visibility/ankle_bands/

Hi-viz vests offer 360 degree visibility - I use the make in the following link - have washed it several times and it still works well after three years.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/respro/superlite-waist-coat-ec009166

The best safety measure is to mount front and rear lights. There is wide choice between self-generating dynamos, LED blinking attention grabbers and so-called ABS systems for 'Blair Witch' lighting on off-road paths. See the following link for more details:
http://www.aukweb.net/lights/index.htm

My favs are dynamo-driven front and rear lights - good for commuting and night riding on well-lit urban roads, and the Niterider ABS system for jaunts on dark tow paths. The advanced systems are more expensive but the batteries can be recharged hundreds of times and these are the only lighting systems that provide safe see-and-be-seen lighting where there are no streetlights (or a new moon). See the following link:
http://www.niterider.com/bike.shtml

My Thinking Cap

Helmets are an essential safety feature for cyclists. Arguments to the contrary are a bit like the hold-outs on global warming. Not only are helmets essential in helping to minimise head injuries in a crash, but they also have value when attacked - this happened to me two years ago on a London canal. The thugs were kicking my head to get me to release my bike. I joke about my Specialized Deuce as my 'thinking cap' but it really is no joke; limbs can be patched up or even replaced after an accident but there is no ready solution for brain injury. I'm concerned that safety standards have relaxed in this area - see
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2023.pdf

The Snell Memorial Foundation has the world's most stringent testing standards - there are a few helmets in the UK which meet these standards - see
http://www.smf.org/